Interview with Ryan Dills of The Georgia Hemp Company
By: Natalie Newman
Tell me about yourself. Your background, education, your previous experience in finance
I graduated from WCU in 2003 with degree in Accounting as well as Finance. I worked at a large real estate property management company in SoCal for 7 years as financial analyst.
Interview By: Natalie Newman
My business partner and I had the pleasure of meeting Whitney at AmericasMart in Atlanta, Georgia for the April Apparel Mart. She was kind enough to let me interview her and provided me with some pointers that are perfect for us new boutique owners. Enjoy!
Tell me about yourself and your business. What is your background, where is your business located, how
long have you been open, what do you sell?
Enjoy this interview with Chris Moore, a fire inspector in Jackson County.
Interview By: Natalie Newman
Tell me a little about yourself, your education, and your experience.
My name is Chris Moore. I am originally from Halifax and Northampton Counties In eastern North Carolina and a graduate of Halifax Academy. My time in high school centered on athletics and keeping my grades up in order to one day attend college. Both of my parents never went beyond high school, so I was the first in my family to have an opportunity in attending college. I attended Western Carolina University where I majored in Parks and Recreation Management (Outdoor Leadership) and received a Bachelor of Science degree. I volunteered with the US Forest Service (Highlands Ranger District on the Nantahala National Forest) while fulfilling my internship requirements for my Degree. Upon graduation from college, I went on to work for the United States Forest Service (USFS) as a career employee in a primary wildland firefighter position (Forestry Technician/FIRE). These positions were funded under the National Fire Plan approved by the Clinton Administration around 2000. It was in this position that I was exposed to the Incident Command System and All Risk Incidents throughout the United States. I received specialized training that would advance my qualifications and allow me to become a national resource for incidents of all types ranging from wildfires, to hurricanes, to collecting shuttle parts and special events. I was assigned other duties in Recreation, Lands, and Timber Management with the USFS. We, as Forestry Technicians, had to be well diversified in a day’s time to meet the needs of a multi-use type agency. I was a 2004 member of the Asheville Interagency Hotshot Crew, in which prepares federal wildland firefighters for future leadership roles within a federal land management agency. I was with the USFS until the birth of my first child in 2010. It was then I made a choice to give up a career job in order to be a stay-at-home father. I have two daughters and was home with them for about 4 years. It was then I picked up the local newspaper and saw an opening for a Fire Inspector in Jackson County. I have a wife, Bethany. We have been married for about 15 years and she has been my rock since 2001. Like I mentioned, we have two daughters, Mattie, 7, and Lucie, 6. We are truly blessed.
Published by: Natalie Newman
When it comes to the conversation about entrepreneurial innovation, what better place to start than an entrepreneurially successful venture that literally has “innovation” in it’s name?
I had the pleasure of interviewing Nicole Owen, one of the owners of Innovation Brewing in Sylva, North Carolina. Innovation Brewing is very popular in the area and is in the process of growing again. As it stands, the establishment has a sort of industrial feel but manages to give off a very comfortable and relaxing ambiance that customers love. The owners are always creating new beers, and as their current expansion project proves, they are willing to try new things with their business. It’s the brewery to visit in Jackson County for beer lovers; novices and experts alike.
